<p> Facebook has banned Australian celebrity chef and conspiracy theorist Pete Evans for repeatedly spreading misinformation about the coronavirus.</p>.<p>With more than a million social media followers, Evans had been an influential promoter of conspiracy theories about the pandemic and vaccines.</p>.<p>Facebook said Thursday it would not "allow anyone to share misinformation about Covid-19 that could lead to imminent physical harm" or falsehoods about Covid-19 vaccines.</p>.<p>"We have clear policies against this type of content and we've removed Chef Pete Evans' Facebook Page for repeated violations of these policies," the company said in a statement.</p>.<p>The former chef's page on Instagram -- a Facebook-owned platform -- with 278,000 followers is still active, however, and includes posts that encourage Sydney residents to defy public health officials and refuse to get tested for the virus.</p>.<p>Australia's largest city is currently battling to contain a cluster of more 100 cases that ended months of low community transmission.</p>.<p>Evans said on Instagram Thursday that he was glad to be "one of the catalysts for a conversation" about freedom of speech and described the science around the pandemic as "BS".</p>.<p>Facebook has previously banned some high profile accounts that peddled misinformation and hate speech, most notably those of conspiracist Alex Jones and far-right figure Milo Yiannopoulos.</p>.<p>Under fierce scrutiny and criticism that the platform is debasing public debate, Facebook has also announced a ban on accounts linked to the QAnon conspiracy group.</p>.<p>Evans was previously known for promoting pseudoscientific dieting ideas -- often linked to his own commercial enterprises -- such as the palaeolithic diet, earning him the nickname "Paleo" Pete.</p>.<p>Several companies recently ditched Evans and his books were pulled from the shelves after he posted a "black sun" Nazi symbol on social media.</p>.<p>Evans denies trafficking in lies, and denounces what he calls "fear-based propaganda."</p>.<p>"The pandemic is a hoax. It is as simple as that" he told <em>AFP</em> earlier this year, without offering any credible evidence.</p>
<p> Facebook has banned Australian celebrity chef and conspiracy theorist Pete Evans for repeatedly spreading misinformation about the coronavirus.</p>.<p>With more than a million social media followers, Evans had been an influential promoter of conspiracy theories about the pandemic and vaccines.</p>.<p>Facebook said Thursday it would not "allow anyone to share misinformation about Covid-19 that could lead to imminent physical harm" or falsehoods about Covid-19 vaccines.</p>.<p>"We have clear policies against this type of content and we've removed Chef Pete Evans' Facebook Page for repeated violations of these policies," the company said in a statement.</p>.<p>The former chef's page on Instagram -- a Facebook-owned platform -- with 278,000 followers is still active, however, and includes posts that encourage Sydney residents to defy public health officials and refuse to get tested for the virus.</p>.<p>Australia's largest city is currently battling to contain a cluster of more 100 cases that ended months of low community transmission.</p>.<p>Evans said on Instagram Thursday that he was glad to be "one of the catalysts for a conversation" about freedom of speech and described the science around the pandemic as "BS".</p>.<p>Facebook has previously banned some high profile accounts that peddled misinformation and hate speech, most notably those of conspiracist Alex Jones and far-right figure Milo Yiannopoulos.</p>.<p>Under fierce scrutiny and criticism that the platform is debasing public debate, Facebook has also announced a ban on accounts linked to the QAnon conspiracy group.</p>.<p>Evans was previously known for promoting pseudoscientific dieting ideas -- often linked to his own commercial enterprises -- such as the palaeolithic diet, earning him the nickname "Paleo" Pete.</p>.<p>Several companies recently ditched Evans and his books were pulled from the shelves after he posted a "black sun" Nazi symbol on social media.</p>.<p>Evans denies trafficking in lies, and denounces what he calls "fear-based propaganda."</p>.<p>"The pandemic is a hoax. It is as simple as that" he told <em>AFP</em> earlier this year, without offering any credible evidence.</p>